Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will correspond with local authorities to remind them of their legal obligations to ensure the rights of persons with a disability are adequately considered in interim mobility plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22154/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The design, planning and implementation of mobility plans is a function of each of the thirty-one Local Authorities.My Department, and the Department Transport, Tourism and Sport have provided some guidance in this area recently to local authorities entitled‘Interim Advice Note - Covid 19 Pandemic Response’ . This was issued by joint circular (RW 07/2020 and NRPPS 01/2020) in June 2020.

The Interim Advice Note:

- highlights a range of measures that can be quickly implemented to address challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and in particular, the immediate steps towards ensuring that city, town and village centres (and other areas where pedestrians may converge) can provide an environment that is safe and welcoming in support of communities and the reopening of businesses;

- refers to the ‘Interim Mobility Intervention Programme for Dublin City’ issued by Dublin City Council/National Transport Authority and encourages all Local Authorities to develop mobility plans as an immediate response to the Covid- 19 pandemic;

- states that when considering Covid-19 related measures, local authorities also consider longer-term alignment with the principles, approaches and measures contained within the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (‘DMURS’), which promotes the principles of Universal Design;

- requests that when implementing emergency measures, local authorities consider broader Government policies regarding accessibility for people with disabilities;

and

- states that all measures should be monitored and adapted over time, to include further consultation with people with disabilities.

Taking the above into account, I am satisfied that the Local Authorities have received appropriate and sufficient correspondence at this time and that there is no immediate requirement to issue further correspondence.